Sean’s light-heavyweight fight was part of the co-main event of the show, which was organized by the North American Allied Fight Series (NAAFS) organization. MMAjunkie.com was among the estimated 2,000 to 3,000 fans in attendance at the Plain Dealer Pavilion in downtown Cleveland.

Sean’s wrestling and groundwork proved too much for Freeman, a Vander Fighting Systems team member and former Ohio Toughman champion. Sean needed just 79 seconds to score a takedown and submit the local favorite with a keylock — a signature move of his early MMA career.

“Honestly, this was the hardest fight of my career,” Sean said after the bout. “I’ve never been so nervous for a fight. When you have two losses in a row, you start to second guess everything.”

Sean most recently fought at UFC 71 on May 26 and suffered a first-round submission loss to Alan Belcher. With back-to-back losses, Sean was granted a temporary release from his UFC contract so he could fight in other organizations and regain his form before returning to the Octagon.

The first step was an obvious success.

Sean, though, wasn’t the only 0-2 UFC fighter to pick up a win yesterday.

Jason Dent (20-7 MMA, 0-2 UFC), who suffered losses at UFC 63 and UFC 68, scored a first-round submission win (arm triangle) over Mike Bogner in one of the night’s featured bouts.

Dent, who is from Mentor, Ohio, earned a huge ovation for his efforts.

“I enjoy fighting for NAASF and at home in Cleveland,” Dent said. “But I definitely plan to go back to the UFC or PRIDE sometime soon.”

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